Male and female reproductive systems

Reproduction and inheritance · Human reproduction · note 1 of 5

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Male and female reproductive systemsSpec 3.8

In short

The male and female reproductive systems make gametes and bring them together for fertilisation. In males, the testes make sperm and testosterone, the prostate gland adds fluid to make semen, and the urethra carries semen out through the penis. In females, the ovaries make eggs, fertilisation usually happens in the oviduct, and the embryo implants in the uterus.

The reproductive systems are adapted for making gametes, bringing the gametes together for fertilisation, and (in females) protecting and nourishing the developing embryo. Sperm are made in the testes and eggs in the ovaries.

Side view of the male reproductive system: the testis in the scrotum, the sperm duct running up and behind the bladder to the prostate gland, and the urethra running through the penis; red arrows show the path of sperm from the testis to the outside of the body. — The male reproductive system. Sperm travel from the **testis** along the **sperm duct** to the **urethra** and out through the penis.

The male reproductive system
Part	Function
Testes	Make sperm (the male gametes) and the hormone testosterone
Scrotum	A bag of skin that holds the testes outside the body, where it is slightly cooler, which is better for sperm production
Sperm duct	A tube that carries sperm from each testis towards the urethra
Prostate gland	Adds fluid to the sperm to make semen. The fluid gives the sperm a liquid to swim in and contains nutrients
Urethra	A tube that carries semen (and urine) through the penis to the outside
Penis	Passes sperm into the vagina during sexual intercourse

Front view of the female reproductive system: two ovaries, two oviducts, the uterus with its lining, the cervix and the vagina; labels show that the egg is released from the ovary, fertilisation usually happens in the oviduct and the embryo implants in the uterus lining. — The female reproductive system. Fertilisation usually happens in the oviduct and the embryo implants in the **uterus lining**.

The female reproductive system
Part	Function
Ovaries	Make eggs (the female gametes) and the hormones oestrogen and progesterone
Oviducts	Tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilisation usually happens here. The lining of the oviduct has cilia that move the egg along
Uterus	A muscular organ with a soft lining. The embryo implants in the lining and the fetus develops here
Cervix	A ring of muscle at the opening of the uterus. It keeps the uterus closed during pregnancy
Vagina	Receives the penis and sperm during intercourse. It is also the birth canal

Exam tip:

Learn each part as ‘name, then job’. Examiners often ask where gametes are made (testes and ovaries) and where fertilisation happens (oviduct).

Written and checked against the Edexcel IGCSE Biology (4BI1) specification · Updated October 2026

Frequently asked questions

What does FSH do in the menstrual cycle?

Biology only FSH, released by the pituitary gland, causes an egg to mature in an ovary and stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen. As oestrogen rises, it inhibits FSH and stimulates the release of LH, which causes ovulation. After ovulation, progesterone inhibits FSH and LH, so no more eggs mature.

What are the roles of oestrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle?

Oestrogen and progesterone are both made in the ovaries. Oestrogen causes the repair and growth of the uterus lining after menstruation. Progesterone maintains the thick lining, ready for a fertilised egg. If the egg is not fertilised, progesterone falls, the lining is no longer maintained and it breaks down in menstruation.

How does the placenta provide for the developing embryo?

The placenta lets substances pass between the mother's blood and the embryo's blood by diffusion, without the bloods mixing. Oxygen and nutrients such as glucose and amino acids diffuse into the embryo's blood, while carbon dioxide and urea diffuse into the mother's blood. Villi, thin walls and a good blood supply speed up diffusion.

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